Julie Bangerter Beck is as she seems. Whether you hear her speaking at the pulpit or speak to her face-to-face, you find the dark-haired woman warm and caring, someone who loves a good laugh with a friend — or is ready to cry with her. She loves meeting members throughout the world and says her heart just continues to grow, "like the Grinch," the Christmas cartoon character whose heart grew several sizes through serving others.

Photo by Julie Dockstader Heaps

Ramon and Julie B. Beck began a life of service when they married in 1973. Today, they have three children, eight grandchildren.

But her favorite place is home, among family and friends. She says she has a "home heart."

Sitting on an old, worn wooden bench her father built years ago while constructing homes, Sister Beck describes her home as "just my things around me." Hanging on pegs in the entrance to the kitchen are aprons belonging to her grandmothers. One apron is smaller than the others. The little red, white and blue apron with a pocket is the one she used to wear as a child to cook with her Grandmother Hamblin. On the floor of the sun room are multi-colored rag rugs tied by grandmothers.

Among several throw pillows is one white pillow with buttons in the Young Women colors, along with the stitched words, "I am of value."

The value of every woman is a message that is at the center of Sister Beck's heart. "I don't think it's any different if you're 12 or 112," she declared. Helping others learn their divine identity is just one reason she has been willing — even eager — to travel the world, first as a member of the Young Women general presidency and now as the new Relief Society general president.

Sister Beck was sustained as the 15th general president of the Relief Society last month during general conference. Sustained as Sister Beck's counselors were Silvia H. Allred and Barbara Thompson. (Church News profiles on Sisters Allred and Thompson, and on Mary N. Cook, newly sustained as second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, will be published in coming weeks.)

The second reason Sister Beck, a mother and grandmother, is eager to fulfill her new duties is her love of the gospel. "Humbled, humbled" were the only two words she could at first utter when asked her thoughts and feelings. "It's just the word I go around thinking at night. I can't believe it fell to me because I never aspired to do anything but serve happily in my little ward, community and family and make a difference in that sphere."

You might say there is a third reason — an obedient heart fostered in a home where if the prophet asked, you answered.

Born to Wm. Grant and Geraldine Hamblin Bangerter, the fifth of 11 children, young Julie Bangerter grew up loving cultures. As a 4-year-old, she traveled with her parents and siblings from Utah to Brazil where her father, today an Emeritus General Authority, presided over the Brazilian Mission. "They went with the same idea that Ammon went (among the Lamanites) with. These are my people, and I'm their servant and this is my home. They sold everything and went.

"We did picnics with our Brazilian friends, we had parties with our Brazilian friends, and we were Brazilians. I spoke Portuguese like a Brazilian. It was fun and that was the way to do it. You didn't have one foot here and one foot there," said Sister Beck, who laughed when she recalled playing missionary rather than playing house.

This love of everything Portuguese continues today for Sister Beck, as witnessed during a 2006 satellite broadcast to Spain and Portugal, during which she delivered her address in the language she learned as a child. She also speaks Spanish and understands some Italian, having learned it from her husband, Ramon, who served his mission in Italy.

Ramon Beck was a stake young single adult representative in Alpine after his mission when he met Julie Bangerter, fresh from Dixie College. The Bangerter family moved there a few years after returning from Brazil. The first thing he noticed were her eyes. As he got to know her, he realized she knew who she was and treated others the same. They were married Dec. 28, 1973, in the Salt Lake Temple and are parents of three children and grandparents of eight.

It was after the birth off her third child that Sister Beck began more than a decade of illnesses that taught her lessons she hopes to share with women today. During this time, she was PTA president, a Primary president and helping on her parents' farm after her father was called as an Assistant to the Twelve Apostles and later as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy.

With emotion, she recalled moments of despair. "This is my life?" she would ask herself after attacks would send her to bed for days at a time. "I was in a wrestle with the Lord, like Enos, and the answers came in little pieces, in drips and drops, line upon line."

She said she learned to prioritize, to scale down to the bare essentials — make time for personal spiritual growth and for family. The family had daily devotionals and scripture reading; the children received piano lessons and were allowed one other activity. Sister Beck laughed when she related one of the most important lessons she learned during her illnesses. During one particularly challenging day, she expressed the feeling that she just could not accomplish anything. Her daughter replied, "You can smile."

She calls her ability to serve in a worldwide calling today a miracle. But she is quick to remember the lessons she learned during those 10 years. Now she prioritizes not by what she thinks others or the world expect of her. She prioritizes according to what the prophets say is important. "If prophets are talking about it, it's an essential."

Now if she feels overwhelmed, she remembers who she is — and she smiles.

E-mail to: julied@desnews.com